ILOILO – Mayor Oscar “Oca” Garin Sr. of Guimbal town backed out from the race for congressman in the 1st District.
“I withdrew for many reasons pero isa ka major reason is to preserve my family…the unity of the family (comes first). Pulitika and other factors come after that,” said Garin yesterday.
Garin filed his certificate of candidacy (COC) for congressman on Oct. 17 just minutes apart from the filing for the same post by his daughter-in-law Janette. On Oct. 11, his son Richard, the incumbent congressman, filed his COC seeking reelection.
Garin insisted there was no fissure in the family, only differences in opinion that “indi ko gusto nga maglatom pa.”
Garin also said his withdrawal should correct the impression that their family was greedy for political power.
“We cannot correct that impression unless isa lang sa Garin mapadalagan (congressman),” he said.
Ultimately, only one Garin would run for congressman, he stressed, and it would either be Richard or wife Janette.
“Ibilin ko sa ila ang decision. Anyway, I have said my piece to each of them,” he added. “Both of them are capable and competent.”
After announcing his withdrawal from the race for congressman, Garin said would seek reelection.
He said would be a substitute candidate to one who had filed a COC for mayor of Guimbal.
When he filed his COC for congressman, Garin tried to explain the unique situation with his son and daughter-in-law to the press this way: “We’re fine-tuning the situation. Nothing is very definite…just ample preparation for any eventuality.”
Asked what he meant by “fine-tuning”, Mayor Garin further explained: “Bali gina-evaluate pa namon each and every angle, each and every level. We have yet to come up with a definite grasp of the situation. So, amo ina, may reserve lang so that we can still be flexible.”
He also said there would be more political developments in the days to come.
“Some of them unexpected. Indi pa kita makasiguro gid. So, mas may ligwa ka, mas okay,” said the Garin patriarch.
He assured Garin supporters in the 1st District their family was intact, although not “100 percent.”
“Bisan mag-asawa gani nagabulagay, ayhan pa ining politika nga waay kamo nagapakasal sini,” said Mayor Garin.
Retired Philippine National Police general Gerardo Flores is also running for congressman of the 1st District as an independent candidate.
“The people of the 1st District must be given choices,” said Flores./PN
Minango na ang inyo wala gali kamo plano kong ano serbisyohan nyo basta ang inyo maka padalagan lang kamo. Its a greedy in power at its best. Wala kamo plano dinalok sa poder ang inyo.